The Sunset Tavern was one of the most famous and long-standing businesses in the coastal city of Liverne. The inn had been run by the same family for almost 80 years and was considered one of the largest buildings in the city, with large stone foundations and a structure made of wood and plaster. It was opened by Abraham Johrat when the city was little more than a new village that had sprung up not far from Chipton, the economic center of the United Provinces of Redcia. The tavern quickly became the preferred refreshment spot for fishermen and sailors.
Much of its success was due to a liqueur produced in-house by the Johrat family called the nectar of Liverne, made using a small white flower that grew throughout the region. The alcohol was so appreciated by both locals and travelers that over the years the tavern began to gain a great reputation even outside of Liverne.
Eighty years after its foundation, the tavern was run by Ibrer Johrat, Abraham's grandson, for twenty years now. Ibrer was a corpulent and massive man, his face adorned with a large nose that towered over two long mustaches that, like his short hair, were bronze red.
Despite his gruff appearance, the man was considered one of the friendliest people you could find in Liverne. Ibrer loved stories, a passion shared with his father and grandfather before him, so it was not uncommon for when a newcomer to Liverne arrived at the Sunset Tavern, Ibrer would invite them to sit at the counter and then engage in long discussions, asking about their travels and what brought them to Liverne. Naturally, this not only satisfied the man's curiosity but also proved very effective in satisfying the tavern's coffers with a few extra coins, as Ibrer said "There is nothing that goes better with a good story than a glass of nectar!"
Unfortunately, those coffers had been starved in recent months due to the absence of new ships in the city's port due to several sudden storms that seemed to break out off Liverne. These sudden storms appeared and disappeared within minutes even with the clearest skies and had caused several shipwrecks and the consequent change of route of several merchant companies in order to reduce the loss of goods. This drastically reduced new arrivals, although some daredevils still defied the recent wrath of the seas.
That day the sun was about to set, and few souls were present in the tavern, just a few old sailors and a couple of fishermen who had decided to end their day early.
"Ibrer, pass me some more Nectar, I need it to invigorate these old worn bones!" Said an old sailor loudly, a thin man in his seventies with a long-hooked nose and few white hairs scattered on the back of his head and sides. His name was Tobias Brownflet, he had been in the navy when Ibrer was just a boy, as well as being a great friend of his father. After finishing his military service Tobias worked in several commercial fleets that went from Chipton to the Great Canal that divided the two continents, but with advancing age it was not uncommon to see him at the Sunset Tavern drinking nectar.
"You know that drinking so much is not good for you, especially at your age..." Ibrer warned him, still filling his glass with more liqueur.
"Hehe... don't talk nonsense, I drank this stuff when it was still in your father's balls, a few glasses of this are nothing!" Exclaimed Tobias raising his mug and then starting to gulp down the alcohol.
Ibrer just rolled his eyes at the old sailor's words and then went back to cleaning the dark and shiny wooden counter.
The interior of the building was lit by a large stone fireplace along with several brass chandeliers that hung from the ceiling. The wooden floor was adorned with various rugs of different shapes and colors that Ibrer's father had bought from a ship that had arrived from the Empire of Ocser to the south. The walls were almost completely covered in plaster leaving only the supporting wooden pillars visible and were adorned
with nautical memorabilia and various objects from all over the world. Most were bought from the various ships that docked at the port.
"Rather Ibrer, have you heard about what happened down at the harbor?" Tobias suddenly asked, turning to Ibrer, who responded with a glance at the old man, raising an eyebrow.
"Is there any news from the harbor?" Ibrer asked curiously.
The old man nodded.
"This morning, shortly after sunrise, a ship from the Grand Canal Company arrived at the port, and believe me when I say it's a miracle they made it here with a ship in that condition. It seems that the merchants from Ofen were some of the poor bastards who survived Roxanna's Terror," Tobias said before taking another sip.
"Damn me! If what you say is true, then it seems like the Great Father has shown them mercy," exclaimed Ibrer, receiving only a nod from old Tobias in response.
Roxanna's Terror was the name the inhabitants of Liverne gave to the recent sudden storms. The name originated from the first ship to survive it, a trading vessel that came from the port city of Porta. Some sailors on board swore they saw enormous sea serpents rising from the water's surface and among the waves caused by the storm. Other surviving ships, however, told tales of seeing a female figure walking on the water in the distance just before the storm arrived. The sailors named her the Sea Witch.
In the meantime, the sun began to set and the sky began to be occupied by several gray clouds. Several sailors made their way into the bar after finishing their workday. Fishermen tended to return a little earlier than usual since, for fear of being the next victims of Roxanna's Terror, they avoided going too far out to sea and preferred to fish along the coast. One by one they all entered the bar greeting Ibrer and Tobias before ordering a drink. Shortly after, Ibrer was surprised to see three new faces enter the bar: two men and a boy who had just come of age. The three strangers approached the counter. The two men, one older and shorter with black and gray hair combed back and a walking stick, and the other, younger and tall and sturdy in stature, was dark-skinned with a shaved head and a thick black beard. Both were elegantly dressed in green clothes with golden yellow trimmings. Over their clothes they wore a scarlet red cloak with a winged dolphin sewn on it, the symbol of the merchants of the Great Canal Company. The boy behind them was blond and thin, probably just coming of age and a head taller than the older man, wearing more modest white clothes with a blue cloak on which was sewn a symbol of a salmon.
The older man turned to Ibrer in a friendly tone but with a face visibly marked by fatigue.
"Good evening tavern keeper my name is Borgelm Lue, merchant of the Great Canal Company. The man next to me is my colleague Ren Zuulihd and the boy is my apprentice, Hir Memirges. We have just arrived in town after a long and unlucky journey, and we would like to know if it is possible to fill our stomachs in your establishment." Said the merchant indicating his companions.
"Welcome to the Sunset Tavern, merchants of Ofen, my name is Ibrer. The kitchen has not yet started serving meals but in the meantime please sit at the counter and have a drink," said Ibrer, gesturing for the merchants to sit on the stools.
"Thank you for the welcome, tavern keeper, and if possible, my colleague and I would like to try some Nectar of Liverne that we have heard so much about at the port," said Ren in a deep voice.
Ibrer nodded and took two glasses and a bottle of the family liqueur.
"And you, boy? What can I get you?" The man asked young Hir.
"Um... well... water will be fine, thank you," replied the boy timidly, causing laughter from the other two merchants.
"Ignore the boy, tavern keeper, it's his first trip and it was a somewhat stormy one. A pint of beer is what he needs," exclaimed Borgelm, giving the boy a strong pat on the back who could only nod at his mentor's requests.
"Were you on the ship hit by the Terror of Roxanna that arrived in port this morning?" asked Ibrer, handing two glasses of Nectar to the merchants and a mug of beer to the boy.
"Ah, yes. I heard this name at the port, and I can say with certainty that that name does not do it justice. I still can't understand how it's possible... We were on our way back from Porta heading towards Chipton. One moment before the sky was clear and the weather perfect for sailing, and suddenly as if by magic a damn storm literally formed above our heads. The waves grew and ferocity while lightning and torrential rain beat down on the ship... It's a miracle that the ship survived the storm, but even so it's not able to make the rest of the journey to Chipton. Tomorrow we will be forced to rent a carriage and reach the city by land," sighed Borgelm before taking a sip of Nectar.
"By the beard of the Great Father, this liqueur is delicious! Tell me, tavern keeper, would you be interested in selling it to me? I guarantee I can give you a great price," proposed the merchant.
"Glad you like it, but I'm sorry the recipe is not for sale. It's a family secret," replied Ibrer shaking his head and then looking at them seriously.
"You said you will continue your journey by land, right? Then I hope for your sake that you have an armed escort because several bandits have been spotted in the forests outside Liverne. They probably came to this region to take possession of the goods that occasionally arrive on the coast after yet another shipwreck. It seems they have set up camp southwest of the city, right in the direction of Chipton. Dressed as you are and with the gold you are probably carrying with you, they will come to meet you like moths with a lantern."
The 3 travelers looked at each other perplexed.
"Unfortunately, no, our guards were part of the ship's crew, and we cannot take them with us by land. Tell me Ibrer where could we find someone who could defend us during the journey?" asked Ren leaning on the counter.
"Liverne does not have a guild so you will have to hope to meet some mercenary soldier who is willing to accompany you to Chipton," replied the tavern keeper.
With a sigh Ren turned to his colleague.
"It seems we won't be able to leave right away, tomorrow we'll have to start looking for an escort."
"I'd say it's decided then. And you, Hir, try not to drink too much, tomorrow we have a long day!" exclaimed Borgelm to the boy who was trying to finish his mug one sip at a time. Hir just rolled his eyes at the merchant's words and then turned to Ibrer.
"Mr. Ibrer, as for the Terror of Roxanna, has anyone ever seen or heard of a woman walking on water appearing before it happened?"
But before the tavern keeper could answer, he was interrupted by Borgelm who grumbled at him in an annoyed manner.
"Hir for the umpteenth time, stop with this story! Only you saw that woman. I would say it is extremely unlikely that there was anyone, let alone a woman walking on the water."
Then Borgelm smiled chuckling.
"Maybe you've been too much in the middle of the sea with only men young man. Maybe this stretch on land will do you good and who knows maybe tonight you'll get lucky with one of the waitress."
Hir turned red in the face at his mentor's words, but at that moment Tobias, who until then remained silent sitting at the counter next to them drinking his liqueur, turned to the boy.
"So, you say you saw the Sea Witch boy, and tell me what she looked like?" asked the curious sailor. Even Ibrer focused on the young apprentice waiting for his answer.
"W... Well, yes, I was on deck and looking at the sea with my telescope when I saw her standing on the water while looking at the ship. She... she was beautiful, with wavy black hair and sun-tanned skin in a light brown..." Hir seemed to be stunned for a moment and then shook his head and continued.
"After observing her I was about to call the ship's captain to warn him that there was a woman in the sea but before I could do so the storm hit us..." concluded Hir.
After the young merchant apprentice finished his story there was a moment of silence until Tobias burst out laughing.
"Strike me down boy it seems like you really saw the witch! The description matches exactly with that of the other poor bastards who survived her encounter."
"Wait! You're not insinuating that there really is some woman with magical powers capable of unleashing storms and sinking ships at will? And even if there were, why would she do it?" exclaimed Borgelm, surprised that there were other people who had seen the witch.
"I have sailed almost all the seas that the two continents can offer. I have sailed the icy seas of Silia where on some nights the sky turns emerald, I have witnessed the vastness of the Great Channel that has separated the desert people from the mountain dwellers for millennia, and I have reached out and touched the giants that swim in the southern seas. But I can tell you that there are things out there that we little men cannot even imagine. Beings that hide in the deepest abysses, beyond the sight of mortals. And believe me when I tell you that it is better this way, because when we will be able to see through those abysses, may the Great Father help us because then the abysses themselves will be able to see trough us." After that Tobias went back to drinking his glass of Nectar in the silence that formed after his words.
"Since when do you speak so well old man? Maybe you should quit alcohol for today..." said Ibrer to the old sailor with wide eyes and a worried look.
"Just try to take my glass away and I'll show you why they called me Tobias steel hands when I was in the navy," said the old man with a grin and then turned to the 3 merchants.
"Lately there have been rumors circulating at the port and among the crews. Apparently, the witch is not in these waters by chance, but she, instead, protecting something."
"And what would she be protecting?" asked Hir excitedly wanting to know more about the witch.
The old sailor grinned smugly and asked.
"Tell me boy, have you ever heard of the City of Towers?"
At these words Ren abruptly placed his glass on the table.
"Okay old man, I was almost about to believe you, but the City of Towers? No one knows where it is or even if it really exists or not!"
"City of Towers? What place is that?" asked Hir having never heard of such a place.
Borgelm put a hand on the boy's shoulder and spoke.
"Sometimes I forget how young you are Hir. It is said that the City of Towers is an ancient city made up of cyclopean silver towers and that it is located somewhere in the middle of the sea. The city would be home to a chosen people capable of extraordinary miracles. For this reason, they are said to have taken refuge far from the world where no one could disturb them, inviting only very rare individuals to live in their city. But as much as I agree that it is fascinating, I agree with the fact that it is only a story. Moreover, many are the explorers who have sailed the seas in search of the city, many have returned empty-handed and just as many have not returned at all. Even the church in the past had launched expeditions even if no one knows if they found the city or not. In conclusion I feel quite safe in stating that the city is nothing but a myth."
"And that's where you're wrong," retorted Tobias. "Not only does it exist but it is located right in these seas, far off these coasts and the witch must be protecting the city."
"And how can you be so sure old man? Such confidence must be accompanied by evidence otherwise they are nothing but delusions," asked Ren skeptically about the whole discussion.
"Simple, because I know someone who has seen it," said Tobias with a satisfied grin on his face.
At the old sailor's answer Hir's eyes lit up with childlike curiosity at the possible existence of a legendary city. Ibrer instead made a grimace and a sigh and then turned to the merchants.
"Excuse me gentlemen, but if the person Tobias is talking about is who I think it is, then you'd better not believe anything he just told you. That man's mind doesn't work the way the Great Father would want it to," said the tavern keeper, dampening the boy's enthusiasm.
"It may be true that his mind is not what it once was, but I can assure you that the men who know these seas as well or better than me can be counted on the fingers of a maimed hand and Elijah is without a doubt one of them; so, I know I can trust what he told me" Retorted the old man defending his friend.
"You should have seen his face when he told me about the silver ships that surrounded the city and forced him to observe from a distance with his telescope while he was hidden by a fortuitous fog that had descended on the sea that night. He told me how it was not just one city but a much larger land with its towers that even at night shone brightly lit by what seemed like fallen stars from the firmament set in the buildings."
By now both the two merchants and Ibrer had decided to completely ignore the old man's babbling with only Hir remaining to listen to the sailor while outside the sun had completely set and night had arrived along with the rain that was becoming heavier and heavier.
"Well, I'd say it's time to open the kitchen. Feel free to take a table. I'll send one of the waitresses to take your orders," said Ibrer to the two merchants who immediately accepted, dragging the boy behind them and taking one of the tables next to the large fireplace.
"Master, do you think we will ever be able to find the City of Towers?" asked the young man after sitting down at the table.
"Boy, I understand that the idea of finding a mythical city excites you but now we have to think about real necessities, like finding a way to reach Chipton safely," replied Borgelm massaging his forehead.
"Finding a mercenary to hire won't be easy, especially in a small town like this. And we can't afford to let our goods not reach council," confirmed Ren, after which the three began discussing their next moves before reaching Chipton.
It was at that moment that the door of the tavern burst open, letting in a gust of wind that extinguished some of the candles hanging from the chandeliers. The sound of the door slamming echoed throughout the tavern, which became eerily silent as all its occupants focused on the mysterious figure entering the building.
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Hello everyone, this was my experiment with a story based on an idea I've had for a long time. I would love to know what you think about it and if I should continue the novel. So please, leave your comments and let me know what you liked and what you didn't. Goodbye!